Cardinals 2, Pirates 1

PITTSBURGH - Albert Pujols tied a major-league record with a home run in his fourth consecutive at-bat, and Jason Marquis pitched eight innings of three-hit ball for St. Louis.

A day after hitting three homers, including the winner, Pujols homered to center off starter Paul Maholm in the first for a 2-0 lead. He doubled in his next at-bat in the third.

It was the 35th time a player has homered in four straight at-bats. Carlos Delgado, then with Toronto, last did it Sept. 25, 2003. Pujols joins Stan Musial (July 7-8, 1962) as the lone Cardinals to do so.

He is the fifth player in major-league history with at least nine homers in his team's first 13 games.

Marquis had allowed one hit and two baserunners through seven before the Pirates scored in the eighth.

QUOTABLE: "I don't look at numbers," Pujols said. "I didn't know anything about it until (reporters) just brought it up. That's not me. I get locked in on seeing the ball and ... hopefully do some damage out there."

"It's fun to watch him on a daily basis, and I'm glad I don't have to throw to him," Marqus said of Pujols.

NOTABLE: Pujols has 17 home runs in PNC Park, more than any visiting player.